Almost any catarrhal disease leads to a runny nose. Common rhinitis should go away within a week. But if at the end of several weeks it does not stop, such an ailment is called chronic. How to cure a chronic runny nose? This will be discussed further.
What is a disease?
Chronic runny nose is the most common upper respiratory tract disease. In chronic rhinitis, the nasal mucosa becomes inflamed . This inflammation makes breathing difficult and provokes nasal discharge of a diverse plan: liquid, like water, similar to mucus and even purulent. With such inflammation, a person constantly sneezes, his sense of smell is partially or completely disturbed.
Types of chronic runny nose
Several types of this disease are counted. And in order to learn how to cure a chronic runny nose, it is necessary to determine its variety. Rhinitis happens:
- Catarrhal. Often repeated severe runny nose leads to the chronic appearance of this disease. It occurs due to negative factors: drafts, temperature changes, air pollution.
- Hypertrophic. This type of chronic rhinitis occurs under the influence of the same factors as catarrhal. The development of hypertrophic rhinitis occurs due to individual reactions of the body.
- Atrophic. In this case, the disease often affects other organs of the upper respiratory tract.
- Ozena. This type of runny nose entails atrophy of all mucous membranes of the nose, nasal cavity and shells. In this case, dense discharge forms, which dry out in the form of a crust and have an unpleasant odor.
- False or vasomotor runny nose. In this case, rhinitis passes without inflammation of the mucous membranes. This form of chronic runny nose occurs as a result of changes in the central or autonomic nervous system, as well as the endocrine. In people leading an inactive lifestyle, taking drugs to dilate blood vessels, the development of a vasomotor rhinitis occurs in more severe forms. In addition, such rhinitis can be observed in people with morphological features of the structure of the nasal septum (spines, crests).
- Allergic rhinitis. This is the most common form of chronic runny nose. It occurs under the influence of allergens (dust, animal hair, pollen, etc.).
Why rhinitis occurs
There are many causes of chronic runny nose. Here are the most common ones:
- Repeatedly and systematically occurring runny nose.
- Anatomical changes in the nasal cavity. For example, septum curvature or birth defects.
- Long-term effects of adverse factors on the mucous membrane of the respiratory tract (dust particles, pungent odor and toxic fumes).
- A variety of allergic reactions.
- Adverse Environment For example, too dry and hot air drains the mucous membranes of the nose and damages the epithelium.
- A prolonged, constant runny nose can occur under the influence of other diseases (sinusitis, sinusitis, etc.)
- Changes in the hormonal background (pregnancy, etc.)
- Provoking factors can be diseases such as alcoholism, renal failure, endocrine or nervous system disorders. All this entails a violation of blood circulation and, as a result, rhinitis.
- Drugs that affect blood vessels can also lead to chronic runny nose. For example, drops that constrict blood vessels, with long-term use, irritate the nasal mucosa and provoke rhinitis.
Symptoms of Chronic Rhinitis
The most common symptom of a constant runny nose is unilateral congestion. At the same time, there may be no mucous discharge from the nose or they will be insignificant. Chronic runny nose in adults and children is often accompanied by symptoms such as:
- Frequent headaches.
- Sleep disturbances.
- The appearance of viscous mucus and crusts in the nasal cavity.
- Disorder of taste and smell.
- Failure of nasal breathing.
- Swelling of the nose and a feeling of dripping mucus in the respiratory tract.
- Discomfort, itching and burning in the nasal cavity.
- Increased secretion of mucous glands.
Diagnostics
Depending on the root causes of rhinitis, there are various methods for its treatment. In order to learn how to get rid of a chronic runny nose, an examination is necessary. Qualitative diagnosis of chronic rhinitis is carried out by an ENT doctor. At the first stage, rhinoscopy is performed. This is a thorough examination of the entire area of the nasopharynx and paranasal voids. If a runny nose is accompanied by purulent discharge, a radiography or computed tomography of the sinuses is prescribed by a specialist. In addition, it is necessary to pass a general blood and urine test. If the disease is allergic in nature, the patient is tested for a variety of allergens. When a runny nose is caused by a bacterial infection, mucus is sown from the nose. This will help determine not only the type of pathogen that caused the rhinitis, but also allows you to prescribe the correct antibiotic.
Chronic rhinitis often doctors suggest treating with the following drugs:
- Erythromycin.
- Clarithromycin.
- "Midecamycin."
- "Novoimanin".
- Framycetin.
Sometimes a histological analysis of the nasal mucosa is prescribed.
Treatment
Nowadays, chronic runny nose and nasal congestion are found in 18% of the population. Moreover, pathology affects both adults and children. Therefore, the question of whether it is possible to cure a chronic runny nose worries many. When there is a suspicion of the development of such a pathology, it is necessary to seek medical help. Only a specialist can determine the cause of the disease and the form of rhinitis. Only a correctly diagnosed, quality therapy and a serious approach will help a person find the answer to the question of how to cure a chronic runny nose.
Treatment of catarrhal rhinitis
In the treatment of this type of disease, drops from chronic runny nose are used, they reduce the volume of mucus formed and have an antibacterial property. To such a drop can be attributed "Protargol." If the disease is severe, aggressive, then local antibacterial agents are used. These include special ointments (sulfanilamide, salicylic, etc.) or nasal sprays (Polydex, Isofra), which include antibiotics and vasoconstrictors. Varieties of drugs, methods of their use and dose are determined by the doctor. Chronic runny nose with antibiotics is not recommended to be treated independently.
Hypertrophic rhinitis treatment
In the treatment of hypertrophic rhinitis, a complex of various treatment methods is used. The patient is first prescribed a diet that prohibits the use of sweets, fatty and spicy dishes. After this, breathing exercises are prescribed, it improves the functions of the nasal mucous membranes. Physiotherapy (UHF, UFO), laser therapy, etc. are used.
Sclerotherapy is used to treat mild hypertrophic rhinitis. For this, glucocorticoid hormone is administered in courses of 5-10 sessions. Sometimes the mucous membrane is cauterized by various chemicals.
In the event that all of the above treatment methods do not give a positive result, they resort to surgical intervention to restore nose breathing and smell. During the operation, all disorders that caused a hypertrophic rhinitis can be eliminated. At the same time, it is possible to correct the nasal septum if it is curved. The operation is prescribed by a doctor after studying the course of a chronic ailment.
Atrophic rhinitis treatment
Dry crusts that occur with this type of chronic rhinitis are washed with alkaline saline. Wash your nose 2-3 times a day. For this, you can also use an isotonic salt solution with iodine. These drugs are sold in a ready-made form at a pharmacy. In addition, you can make the solution yourself: in 250 ml of boiled water add a teaspoon of sea salt. It is also possible to periodically moisten the mucosa with special solutions based on sea salt (Quicks, Aqualor, etc.). Drops are instilled into the nasal cavity, which are based on various vegetable oils, vitamins A and E. In the case when the mucus is very thick and viscous, agents that dilute sputum and improve its discharge are used.
If a chronic runny nose appeared due to iron deficiency, the doctor prescribes drugs containing this element. In some cases of atrophic rhinitis, surgical intervention is necessary. Such treatment is aimed at narrowing the nasal passages.
Therapy of vasomotor (false) runny nose
The main thing in the treatment of vasomotor rhinitis is to improve the functioning of the nervous system. Compliance with the daily routine, a full night's sleep, a walk in the fresh air and a healthy diet are the basic principles for treating this form of chronic runny nose. Alternative medicine (acupuncture, etc.) is widely used to combat vasomotor rhinitis. In addition, physiotherapy is used: electrophoresis, irrigation with alkaline liquids.
In severe cases, submucosal vasotomy and ultrasound or laser conchotomy are used. When all of the above treatments do not have a positive effect, nose breathing is restored by surgery.
Allergic rhinitis treatment
Allergic rhinitis is considered one of the most common forms of chronic runny nose. How to cure this unpleasant ailment? The main goal of treatment for allergic rhinitis is the complete exclusion of contact with the substances that cause it. To eliminate the effects of harmful allergens in the room, it is necessary to carry out wet cleaning and ventilate. In addition, people suffering from such a cold are prescribed special diets. Products provoking allergic reactions are excluded from their diet.
Antihistamines are prescribed for therapy. They come in the form of tablets or in the form of a special spray, as well as ointments. When all of the above antihistamines are not effective, local glucocorticoids are used to stop the inflammatory process.
Folk remedies
The problem of mucous secretions from the nose and nasal congestion has troubled people since ancient times. Different peoples have treated rhinitis with various methods and techniques. Therefore, today there is a huge amount of folk remedies for chronic runny nose, which effectively deal with the problem and are safe to use.
Here are the most popular ones:
- For washing the nose using a solution of soda. In a mug with warm boiled water add 5 g of soda. This solution is washed 2-3 times a day with a nose.
- Warming up. Heated salt or quartz sand is poured into a small bag, applied to the nose and kept for 10-15 minutes.
- A cold remedy, such as instillation with various vegetable oils (thuja, menthol, eucalyptus), helps well. In addition, drops based on lemon or garlic juice diluted one to one with water are used. Widely known in the treatment of rhinitis and aloe juice, as well as beetroot.
- A good remedy for a cold is considered warming up the legs. To do this, use hot baths with mustard, soda and salt.
In order to remove a viral infection from the body and to improve the passage of mucus from the nose, you need to drink a large amount of liquid. Therefore, it is useful for patients with a chronic runny nose to drink warm tea with the addition of honey and lemon, a decoction of wild rose and other useful plants and herbs.
Now you know how to get rid of a chronic cold. However, it must be remembered that the use of any folk remedies is possible only after consultation with your doctor. Do not engage in self-medication in any case, as this can only aggravate the situation.